Life Updates

I turned fifty a week and a half ago.  Half my life is over, admittedly the longer half, but I hope to have fifty more good years.  I had a great birthday.  Sam came home to surprise me (best present ever) and watch Ben play soccer.  My co workers gave me a Gift Card and I got myself an I Phone.  I have never fallen so hard and so fast for a gadget in my life.  Thank you to everyone who sent good wishes my way.  So far, I like being fifty.

I climbed Haystack Mountain in Vermont, 4.4 miles round trip and 3400 ft in elevation.  The view from the top was nothing but fog, rain and clouds.  It was fucking amazing. Thanks to Nancy, Don, and Neal for a great day.  Looking forward to my next mountain.  Would sun be too much to ask for next time?

The Albany Boys High School Varsity Soccer team made it to Sectionals.  I didn't think it could get better than a first round win against Saratoga on my birthday, but it did. Guilderland proved to be a tough opponent and after two overtimes the tied game was settled by penalty kicks. But the boys pulled through with a win and it secured them a spot in the semi finals, only the second time in thirty years.

I have never seen a group of boys so happy and to this day I feel excited thinking about it.  They did it, they played eleven as one and I couldn't be prouder.  It was about Falcon time.  The semi final game against Bethlehem, a quality team, ended in a loss, with Ben on the bench sick with a upper respiratory virus.  It didn't matter, I got my wish.  Ben had an awesome experience on his first Varsity team.

I feel better every day, both mentally and physically.  I am eleven pounds away from my goal weight.  I still yearn for food and the comfort it brings me, but I'm feeling more in control of it.  This is the hardest thing I have ever done and every day is a work in progress.  For the first time since this summer, I woke up wanting to swim and I was at the pool before the feeling left me.  Thirty minutes later my arms and shoulders were tired, but it was a good tired.  I'm no longer as buoyant as I was and my swimsuit was baggy in the ass and was cutting into my hip bone.  Six months ago you couldn't find my hip bone, much less fit into the swimsuit I had on today.  I'm still not ready to say it was the best thing I ever did for myself, but I'm getting closer.  Ask me in a year, after keeping it off.

So far, I'm loving being fifty and I am looking forward to the next fifty.  On to the next big mountain!  Here's to growing up, going up and not giving up.